Beitbridge border officials on the Zimbabwean side have arrested a Malawian truck driver after a daring smuggling attempt was uncovered today.
The driver, who was heading into South Africa, allegedly tried to sneak four Ethiopian nationals across the border by hiding them inside a supplementary tank on his trailer. Authorities say the unusual cargo was discovered after the truck went through the scanning facility, which picked up suspicious shapes inside the tank.
Border security swooped in and rescued the migrants before taking the driver into custody. Officials confirmed that the Ethiopians were found alive but in a distressed state after being confined in the cramped tank.
This latest incident highlights the extreme risks migrants are taking to cross borders in the region and the lengths smugglers will go to in order to cash in on the desperate.
Read | Truck Driver Caught Smuggling Banned Skin Cream at SA-Botswana Border
The Malawian driver is expected to appear in a Zimbabwean court soon to face charges related to human smuggling and endangering lives.
This is a developing story. SA Trucker will update as more details emerge.
The latest SA Trucking News straight to your inbox!
Do you have more on this story? Click to WhatsApp us. Anonymity guaranteed.
